Steaks Recipe

Bring to room temperature

Remove steaks from the refrigerator 30–45 minutes before cooking so they come closer to room temperature. Pat both sides dry thoroughly with paper towels — dry surface = better sear.

Season both sides of each steak generously and evenly with kosher salt (use about 1 tablespoon total per steak, depending on thickness) and then sprinkle the coarsely ground black pepper and garlic powder. Press seasonings lightly into the meat so they adhere.

Preheat pan

Place a heavy skillet (cast iron preferred) over high heat and let it heat for 4–5 minutes until very hot. The pan should be smoking lightly when ready.

Add the neutral high-heat oil to the hot skillet and swirl to coat. Carefully place the steaks into the pan, laying them away from you. Do not overcrowd — if they don’t fit with space between them, cook one at a time.

Sear the first side without moving for 3–4 minutes to develop a deep brown crust. Timing depends on steak thickness and desired doneness; for a 1" steak this yields a medium-rare to medium crust stage.

Flip the steaks using tongs. Add the unsalted butter, smashed garlic cloves, and herb sprigs to the pan immediately after flipping. As the butter melts, tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to baste the steaks continuously with the melted butter and pan juices for 1.5–3 minutes, spooning the flavored butter over the top to build flavor and finish cooking.

Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer: 120–125°F for rare, 130–135°F for medium-rare, 140–145°F for medium. Remove the steaks from the pan about 5°F lower than the target (carryover cooking will raise the temp).

Place steaks on a warm plate or cutting board and loosely tent with foil. Rest for 5–10 minutes (5 minutes for thinner steaks, 8–10 minutes for thicker cuts). Resting allows juices to redistribute so the steak remains juicy when cut.

If using, squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the steaks and sprinkle a little flaky sea salt just before serving to highlight flavor. Slice against the grain if serving sliced.